JP3077252B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which outputs information obtained by scanning a document as an electric signal and performs writing by using a laser beam using the signal, and more particularly, to facilitate maintenance of a writing device. The present invention relates to an apparatus that sets the arrangement of a scanning device so that the configuration of a cooling unit of the scanning device can be simplified.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine using a digital system, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei.
A mechanism such as that shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 (JP-A) No. 2 is used.
In the image forming apparatus shown in the conventional example, an original is placed on a platen, the image of the original is scanned by a scanning unit, and output as an electric signal by a photoelectric conversion unit such as a CCD. . The image information output from the CCD is transmitted to an image writing device, and a laser beam output from the image writing device is irradiated on a photosensitive drum to perform writing. Then, a toner image is formed by using an electrophotographic method on the image information formed on the photosensitive drum, and a copy of the toner image transferred onto paper is fixed to obtain a copy.

An image forming apparatus using the digital method includes, for example, a writing unit using an image writing unit 3 in a copying unit 2 and a toner image forming unit using a photosensitive drum 5 as in a copying machine 1 shown in FIG. , And copy creating means, etc., and the image reading device 1
0 is arranged. In the image reading apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 4, an optical system device 15 is arranged corresponding to a platen 12 arranged above a frame 11, and information of an image of a document scanned by the optical system device 15 is stored. The signal is transmitted to photoelectric conversion means 19 such as a CCD, and is output as a digital signal by the photoelectric conversion device 19.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, lamps provided in the scanning device and members such as CCDs generate the largest amount of heat. For cooling these members, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-142955 discloses a method. And the like. The cooling means arranges a fan on one side of the image reading device that houses the scanning device,
The air flowing through the inside of the image reading apparatus is blown toward the lamp and members heated by the lamp to perform a cooling operation. Also, CCD
For such heat-generating members, a fan separate from the cooling means for the lamp may be separately arranged in the image reading apparatus to cool those members.

[0005]

However, the digital image reading apparatus has a problem that the read image signal is disturbed by, for example, vibration generated from a cooling fan. Therefore, in order to improve the image quality of the copy, it is necessary to minimize the occurrence of vibration sources such as a motor in the image reading device. It is unavoidable to provide fans in the area. Therefore, in order to prevent the vibrations of these motors from affecting the image quality, the conventional apparatus is provided with various anti-vibration means. However, there is a mechanical problem that a fan or the like must be arranged at a position close to the device such as the CCD, and it is presently difficult to take measures against the problem.

Aside from the problem of vibration, in a conventional electronic copying machine using a digital system, an image reading apparatus having a mechanism similar to that of an optical scanning system is used.
The image reading device is provided with a full-rate carriage supporting a lamp for irradiating a document and one mirror, a half-rate carriage provided with two mirrors, a lens device, an end mirror device, and the like so as to be movable. . Then, a device having a mechanism for inputting light reflected by a mirror provided in each of the devices and forming an image through a lens to a photoelectric conversion device to output a digital signal is configured. However, when a scanning mechanism similar to the conventional optical scanning method is provided, each component of the optical system device is arranged in a state of being distributed over the entire inside of the frame of the image reading apparatus. When another device is arranged below the reading device and maintenance or the like is performed on the device below the reading device, it is necessary to perform maintenance after removing the image reading device.

For example, in the general image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4 described as a conventional example, a scanning device is housed in the image reading device 10 and a copy is made by an image forming device provided in the copying section 2. The image forming apparatus is assembled with the image reading apparatus 10 placed on the copying section 2. However, in the general image forming apparatus, the members that are most likely to fail are the polygon mirror driving motor of the image writing device 3 and its control part, and these members are arranged in a state housed in the copying unit 2. . Therefore, when performing maintenance on each component housed in the copying unit 2, it is necessary to move the image reading device 10 to a position 10a indicated by a virtual line in FIG. Become. However, since the image reading device 10 is very heavy, there is a problem that an operator cannot easily remove it.

Therefore, instead of removing the image reading apparatus 10 from the copying section 2 as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a slide rail or the like is arranged on the copy unit 2 and the image reading device 10 is moved to a position where the upper part of the image writing device is not blocked, and the image writing device or the like of the copying unit is moved. It has also been proposed to perform maintenance on. However, as shown in FIG. 5, supporting the image reading device 10 in a state of being slid sideways on the copying section 2 requires that the image reading device be kept in a very unstable state. However, there is a problem that maintenance work must be performed.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional image forming apparatus as described above, and to change the position of each member of the optical system device arranged in the image reading apparatus to move the full rate carriage to the home position. A large space can be formed at a position corresponding to the image writing device of the image reading device when the image reading device is placed at a position, so that maintenance of the image writing device or the like can be performed without moving the image reading device. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which cooling means for an image reading device is arranged so as not to affect the image writing device and the photoelectric conversion device with vibration.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which an image reading device for accommodating a scanning member is integrally provided on a frame of a copying section having a copy making mechanism. In the present invention, vibration absorbing means for supporting the image reading device on a frame of the copying unit,
An image reading device in which photoelectric conversion means is arranged below a home position of the scanning device; a copying unit in which a writing device is arranged in a frame of the copying unit at a position most distant from the home position; And a cooling fan arranged for the copying section in order to cool the photoelectric conversion means by one fan. The scanning device is located at the home position inside the image reading apparatus. In the stopped state, a space can be formed on the side opposite to the home position of the scanning device, and the space of the scanning device is formed above a writing device provided in the copying unit. I do.

As described above, in the optical system device disposed inside the image reading device, the home position of the full-rate carriage and the position of the photoelectric conversion device are arranged close to each other, so that the inside of the image reading device is disposed. Can be easily performed using one fan. Further, the fan is disposed at a position apart from the image writing device on the side of the copying unit, and the image reading device is supported on the copying unit via rubber legs, so that the vibration of the fan can be reduced by a photoelectric conversion device or an image. The transmission to the writing device can be prevented, and the image quality of the copy is not affected. Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a large space can be formed on one side of the frame when the optical system of the image reading device is not operated, and the image is formed through the space. Maintenance for the writing device and the like can be performed. Therefore, maintenance work for the image writing apparatus and the like can be easily performed from the top of the apparatus only by removing the platen on the image reading apparatus.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. The image forming apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is shown as an electronic copying machine 1 using a digital system. The electronic copying machine 1 includes a copying unit 2 and an image reading device 10, and the copying unit 2 stores an image writing device 3, a photosensitive drum 5, and a toner image on the photosensitive drum. A mechanism for making a copy, a mechanism for fixing the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred, and making a copy, and the like are housed. Also, the frame 1 of the image reading device 10
1, a platen 12 is disposed on the platen 1.
The optical system device 15 is arranged to scan an image of the document placed on the document 2. The optical system device 15 includes a full-rate carriage 16 that scans the entire surface of the platen 12, as in the case of a general digital copying machine using a digital method.
The half-rate carriage 17 is moved by a half distance in the same direction as the full-rate carriage 16, a lens 18, and a photoelectric conversion device 19.

In the optical system device 15, the photoelectric conversion device 19 is disposed below the home position of the full-rate carriage 16, and the members constituting the optical system device 15 are also as shown in FIG. The arrangement is different from that of the conventional image reading apparatus. Then, an image signal obtained from the photoelectric conversion device is output to a control device or the base 4 of the copying unit via a connection wire 14 connecting the image reading device 10 and the copying unit 2, and the electronic copying machine is used. Signals of the operation of each component of the image reading device output from the control device are transmitted through the connection wire 14.

In the copying section 2, a fan 20 is arranged at a position distant from the image writing device 3, and the fan 20
1, cooling air is blown toward the photoelectric conversion device 19 and the full-rate carriage 16. Then, the cooling air sent from the fan 20 is constantly blown toward the photoelectric conversion device 19 to cool the photoelectric conversion device 19, and when the cooling air is at the home position position with respect to the full-rate carriage 16. Has a particularly good cooling effect. In the air passage 21 for sending air from the fan to the image reading device 10, a slight gap is formed at a connection portion between the upper and lower frames. In addition to the rubber feet 13, a seal member (not shown) is arranged around the periphery so that air from the fan does not leak out. And, as mentioned above,
If an air guide path is arranged between the fan and the member to be cooled, and if means for guiding air toward the object to be cooled is provided in the frame of the image reading device, the air guide path moves along the lower portion of the platen. The cooling air can be efficiently blown to the full rate carriage 16.

The image reading device 10 is connected to the copying unit 2 via an elastic member such as a rubber leg 13 which absorbs vibration.
So that the members arranged in the image reading device 10 and the members arranged in the copying section 2 do not affect each other. ing. Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the vibration generated by the fan provided in the copying section causes the elastic member to be provided between the image reading apparatus and the copying section. 19 can be prevented from being affected. Further, since the fan 20 is disposed at a position apart from the image writing device 3 on the side of the copying section, the vibration of the fan does not affect the image writing device. In addition to the above configuration, according to the present invention, the drive mechanism for the optical system device arranged in the image reading device is arranged at a position distant from the photoelectric conversion device 19, so that the drive mechanism of the optical system device is changed to the image writing device 3. The vibration of the driving mechanism is interrupted by the rubber legs 13 even in a state in which the image writing device 3 is located close to the image writing device 3 so as not to affect devices provided in the copying section such as the image writing device 3.

Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a hole 8 communicating with the frame of the copying section 2 is formed on one side of the lower portion of the frame of the image reading device 10, and the hole 8 is formed below the hole 8. The image writing device 3 and the base 4 are arranged. The cover member 6 is arranged so as to close the opening, and the base member 4 and the like are covered by the cover member 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 6 has an upper protruding portion 6a disposed upward and is fixed by screws 7 or the like via a peripheral flange 6b, and performs repair or the like on the lower member. In this case, the screw 7 is configured to be easily removed. Further, by configuring the cover member 6 as described above, even when the base 4 of the image writing device 3 projects upward in the opening between the image reading device and the image reading device, the members are replaced by the cover member 6. Can be accommodated in the projection 6a.

Further, since the cover member is formed by bending so as to form a projection, the strength of the cover member can be improved, and even if the cover member is formed of a thin metal plate member, Sufficient strength can be obtained.
Further, the upper part of the base 4 and other control devices can be covered with a metal cover member 6, and the cover member can be fixed to the main body frame using a metal screw member and connected to the ground. Therefore, in the electronic copying machine of the present invention, electromagnetic waves and the like generated from the base 4 and the like can be shielded by the cover member, and the electromagnetic waves can pass through a platen disposed above the image reading apparatus.
Leakage to the outside can be prevented. Then, the influence of electromagnetic waves on the operator can be easily prevented by providing a simple mechanism by the cover member.

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, when maintenance is to be performed on the motor and the like of the image writing device 3, as shown in FIG. Platen 12 placed in
Is removed, and the cover member 6 is removed through the space S of the frame of the image reading device, so that the image writing device 3 is exposed. Therefore, the base 4 and the image writing device 3 covered by the cover member 6 can be removed through the opening 8 and maintenance can be performed, and the image reading device can be copied at the time of the maintenance. There is no need to move it out of the department. Further, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, since the members constituting the optical system device 15 are positioned on one side of the frame when the optical system device 15 is not operated, the above-described components are used. The space S can be easily formed.

When the maintenance of the image writing device or the like is completed as described above, the cover member 6 is fixed on the upper portion of the image writing device 3 and then the platen 12 is mounted on the upper portion of the image reading device. , An electronic copying machine 1 as shown in FIG. The image reading device 10 of the present invention
In the above, each component of the optical system device 15 movably provided inside the frame can use the same drive mechanism as in the case of the conventional optical scanning device. When performing maintenance or the like of the apparatus, the photoelectric conversion device 19 and the full-rate carriage are stopped below the home position of the full-rate carriage.
The half-rate carriage can be stopped and held substantially at the center of the frame, and the space S can be set large. When the two carriages are stopped at the scan end position and are held at the fixed position, the position at the right end of the frame 11 is
Since the two carriages are stopped, the space S can be set wider as in the case of stopping at the home position.

[0020]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the optical system apparatus disposed inside the image reading apparatus, the position of the home position of the full rate carriage and the position of the photoelectric conversion apparatus are brought close to each other. With this arrangement, the cooling operation inside the image reading apparatus can be easily performed using one fan. Further, the fan is disposed at a position apart from the image writing device on the side of the copying unit, and the image reading device is supported on the copying unit via rubber legs, so that the vibration of the fan can be reduced by a photoelectric conversion device or an image. The transmission to the writing device can be prevented, and the image quality of the copy is not affected. Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a large space can be formed on one side of the frame when the optical system of the image reading apparatus is not operated, and thus the image writing can be performed through the space. Maintenance for the device and the like can be performed. Therefore, maintenance work for the image writing apparatus and the like can be easily performed from the top of the apparatus only by removing the platen on the image reading apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an electronic copying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cover member arranged in a lower opening of the image reading device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram in a case where maintenance is performed on the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional electronic copying machine.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram in a case where the image reading device is moved laterally on a copying unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electronic copying machine, 2 copying unit, 3 image writing device, 4 boards, 5 photosensitive drums, 6
Cover member, 10 image reading device, 12 platen, 13 rubber leg, 15 optical system device, 16
Full-rate carriage, 17 Half-rate carriage, 19 Photoelectric conversion device, 20 fans.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/04-1/207

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus containing a scanning member,
What is claimed is: 1. An image forming apparatus integrally provided on a frame of a copying unit having a copy creating mechanism, wherein: a vibration absorbing unit for supporting the image reading device on the frame of the copying unit; An image reading device in which photoelectric conversion means is arranged below the position, a copying unit in which a writing device is arranged in a frame of the copying unit at a position most distant from the home position, and a scanning device provided in the image reading device. And a cooling fan arranged for the copying unit to cool the photoelectric conversion unit with one fan. Inside the image reading device, the scanning device is stopped at a home position. In this state, a space can be formed on the side opposite to the home position of the scanning device. An image forming apparatus, comprising a spatial portion of the scanning device.